Reading: Market incentives in the Dutch home care debate: Applying the logics of care method

Articles

Market incentives in the Dutch home care debate: Applying the logics of care method

Author:

Stijn Verhagen

About Stijn

Dr. Stijn Verhagen (1975) is a professor in the Participation and Society research group at Hogeschool Utrecht, University of Applied Sciences. Verhagen has published articles about social care, citizenship, social work, youth culture and
integration of ethnic minorities. His PhD thesis is on the Dutch welfare state and care policies. For more information see www.stijnverhagen.nl. Correspondence to: Hogeschool Utrecht, University
of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Society and Law, Research Centre for Social Innovation, Chair of Participation and Society, P.O. Box 85397, 3508 AJ
Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Market incentives in the Dutch home care debate: Applying the logics of care method
Since the 1990s, politicians and policymakers have emphasized the benefits of market incentives to the Dutch home care sector. During this time, waiting lists and other problems have determined the standing of the sector. In this article, the author presents the logics of care method, with which he explores the underlying logics and dilemmas of the marketization of home care. On the basis of 443 text extracts (selected from Dutch political bodies, employers’ organizations, professional organizations, labour unions, health insurers and customer organizations), the author shows that four competing logics of care have manifested themselves in the debate on market incentives: economic, political, familial, and professional logics of care. While some actors point out the conflicts and incompatibilities among the logics, others emphasize their mutual complementarities. The latter is relatively rare, but where the parties do emphasize the mutual complementarity of the logics of care, they also manage to develop policy lines on the basis of which effective solutions to home care problems could be provided. This observation suggests a connection between the debate and actual policy and operational practice.
Het debat over marktwerking in de Nederlandse thuiszorg: Toepassing van de zorglogica-methode
Sinds de jaren negentig hebben politici en beleidsmakers vaak gehamerd op de voordelen van marktwerking in de Nederlandse thuiszorg. Sinds die tijd ook, roepen wachtlijsten, personeelstekorten en overige problemen negatieve publiciteit over de sector af. In dit artikel presenteert de auteur een methode, waarmee hij de onderliggende logica’s en de dilemma’s van marktwerking in de thuiszorg onderzoekt. Op basis van 443 documenten (afkomstig van de Nederlandse overheid, politieke partijen, sociale partners, beroepsgroepen, verzekeraars en patiënten- en consumentenorganisaties), toont de auteur aan dat in het debat over marktwerking, vier concurrerende zorglogica’s aanwezig zijn: de economische, politieke, familiale, en professionele logica’s van zorg. Waar sommige actoren wijzen op de conflicten en tegenstrijdigheden tussen de verschillende logica’s, benadrukken andere hun wederzijdse complementariteit. Dit laatste gebeurt overigens relatief heel weinig, maar áls de partijen de onderlinge complementariteit van de zorglogica’s benadrukken lijkt de kans op een gezamenlijke en effectieve aanpak van de huiszorgproblemen toe te nemen. Deze observatie suggereert een verband tussen het debat enerzijds en de concrete beleids- en uitvoeringspraktijk anderzijds.

How to Cite:
Verhagen, S., (2009). Market incentives in the Dutch home care debate: Applying the logics of care method. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice. 18(4), pp.43–61. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.187